Techies must step out of ivory tower

(October 19, 2005 - The Times of India)

By Sumali Moitra

Bangalore-based MindTree co-founder and chief operating officer Subroto Bagchi has a solution for the bandh hurdle faced by IT firms in Kolkata. It doesn’t revolve around greater police protection for techies.

Instead, it places the onus squarely on local IT companies to climb down from their lofty pedestals and reach out more to society.

“A lot of angst against the privileged status of the IT community arises from a sense of disconnect. To many, IT is a lot of mumbo-jumbo which they can’t relate to. Social acceptance will only come once companies consciously start communicating to a wider audience by demystifying what they do,” Bagchi said.

“In the long run, a clearer understanding of what IT companies do is the best guarantee of immunity from any form of disruptive activity,” he pointed out.

MindTree has already made a start. This IT firm has recently started brining out a newsletter exclusively for parents of its 3000-odd staff spread around the globe. The firm’s top management is currently jogging its brains over the contents of the next issue.
“In our case, we felt the concept of inclusion should rightly begin with those who have the biggest stakes in MindTree’s success since they have sent their children to work for us,” Bagchi said, explaining the rationale behind the initiative.

Going forward, MindTree intends to bring out these newsletters in regional languages also so that the message is understood by more people.

“How are we to rid the elitist tag associated with the industry if we continue to just speak in English?” Bagchi asked.

Nasscom president Kiran Karnik also advocates greater pro-activeness by IT companies to sensitise society about their functioning. “You really have to talk a lot more about what you do and that too in language that the ordinary person can understand,” Karnik said. “Otherwise, there will always be questions as to why IT should be marked out for special treatment,” he added.

What do local firms have to say to this piece of advice?

Acclaris MD Kalyan Kar said Bagchi’s and Karnik’s suggestions made a lot of sense.
“On our part, we actively encourage staff to bring their parents and friends to our facility when we celebrate ‘employees’day’.

We will think up more ways to connect in future,” Kar said.